Kurdistan Region's President Nechirvan Barzani calls for unity, action on 10th anniversary of Sinjar genocide

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – In a solemn address on the 10th anniversary of the Sinjar Genocide, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani paid tribute to the victims and called for continued international and regional efforts to support the Yezidi community and bring justice to the perpetrators.

"We are here to remember one of the most brutal crimes in history."

"We are here to remember one of the most brutal crimes in history," Kurdistan Region President Barzani began, underscoring the enduring pain and suffering inflicted upon the Yezidi people. "More than 5,000 were shot dead and buried in mass graves, over 6,417 women and children were kidnapped, and the fate of many remains unknown."

"Every effort must be made to punish the perpetrators and compensate the victims."

Kurdistan Region President Barzani highlighted the widespread devastation that followed the genocide, describing it as a turning point in Kurdistan and Iraq's history. He called for robust international cooperation to prevent such atrocities in the future and to ensure that justice is served to the victims. "Every effort must be made to punish the perpetrators and compensate the victims," he asserted.

Acknowledging the resilience and determination of the Yezidi people, Kurdistan Region President Barzani praised their will to rebuild and resume life despite the immense challenges. "The Yezidis will rise up and begin again," he said, reaffirming the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) commitment to supporting their recovery and return to Sinjar.

Kurdistan Region President Barzani also stressed the importance of continued international recognition of the Yezidi genocide and the need for comprehensive support for survivors. "Reducing the consequences of genocide is a shared responsibility," he noted, emphasizing the long-term efforts required to address the psychological, social, economic, and environmental impacts of the atrocity.

"The people of Sinjar must manage their own affairs and no longer be captives of external forces."

He urged the implementation of the Sinjar Agreement to restore stability and normalcy to the region, calling on the Iraqi Federal Government and KRG to collaborate effectively. "The people of Sinjar must manage their own affairs and no longer be captives of external forces," Kurdistan Region President Barzani insisted, advocating for the removal of illegal armed groups from the area.

Kurdistan Region President Barzani also called on academic institutions to contribute to preserving Yezidi heritage through dedicated research and studies, ensuring that their culture and history are documented and respected.

In his concluding remarks, Kurdistan Region PresidentBarzani honored the Peshmerga forces and international coalition partners who fought against ISIS, and expressed gratitude to the rescuers of kidnapped Yezidis. "We will always support and defend the rights of the Yezidis," he vowed, promising continued efforts to rebuild Sinjar and secure broader recognition and compensation for the genocide.

"We must ensure that such atrocities never happen again."

"We must ensure that such atrocities never happen again," Barzani concluded, urging unity and cooperation to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region.

The full transcript of the Kurdistan Region’s President Nechirvan Barzani:

His Excellency the Prince of the Yezidis, Hazim Tahsin Beg, the Mir of the Yezidis, 

The Yezidi Spiritual Leader, Baba Sheikh, 

Dear Yezidi brothers and sisters, 

Dear Attendees, 

Good morning.

Welcome to the commemorative ceremony of the 10th Anniversary of the Yezidi Genocide. We are here to remember one of the most brutal crimes in history, which, even today, 10 years later, remains an open wound, and our Yazidi citizens are still suffering from its consequences. This crime stands alongside other horrific acts such as chemical attacks, Anfal, deportation, mass burials, destruction, and all the crimes committed against the Kurdish people and territory.

More than 5,000 people were shot dead and buried in 100 mass graves. More than 6,417 Yezidi girls, women, and children were kidnapped and sold in markets, which unfortunately the fate of 2596 of the kidnapped persons remain unclear. The destruction of Sinjar and its surroundings, the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people, and the enduring pain and longing of all these cannot be forgotten, not in 10 years, but forever.

The genocide of the Yezidis in the modern and developed world was a shocking event that shook humanity to its core. It was a turning point in the history of Kurdistan and Iraq, one that should have been taken more seriously. The entire international community should have worked together to prevent such crimes from being repeated elsewhere. Every effort must be made to ensure that the perpetrators are punished, justice is served to the victims, and the victims are compensated in every possible way.

On this occasion, we commemorate the sacrifices of the Yezidis with the utmost respect. We bow before their holy souls. They will forever be remembered by every Kurdistani and every conscientious person. Greetings to the families of the victims. We feel their pain closely and are aware of the longing, sighing, and sorrow that fill their days and nights. We sympathize with them and will always support them.

Dear ladies and gentlemen,

Recovering from the genocide, resuming life, and rebuilding hope for the future in such a situation, time, and geography is not an easy task, but the resistance and will to live and survive shown by the Yezidis make it possible. Just as dozens of orders of extermination have failed to destroy them in the past, this time they will rise up and begin again.

International efforts to recognize the genocide of the Yezidis, international assistance, and the work done in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq to serve the Yezidis, such as establishing laws for Yezidi survivors and other Christian, Turkmen, and Shabak communities, and allocating monthly allowances from the Iraqi federal government are appreciated. The support of the Kurdistan Regional Government to help Yezidi refugees return to Sinjar and many other steps are also appreciated. However, these efforts are not enough, and there is still much more to be done for the beloved Yezidi people.

Reducing the consequences of genocide is the shared responsibility of all in Iraq, the Kurdistan Region, and the international community. Addressing the psychological, social, human, economic, and environmental consequences of genocide is a difficult and long-term task that requires significant skills, expertise, and necessity. We have no choice but to continue and succeed in this task. The fate of the missing must be revealed, and their families must be saved from the constant pain of waiting.

We assure all Yezidi brothers and sisters that the efforts to rescue the kidnapped Yezidis will continue until the last kidnapped person is found. Thousands of victims need long-term psychological treatment and special care to help them return to normal life. Sinjar and its surroundings need reconstruction, services, and peace and stability. Therefore, the Iraqi Federal Government should cooperate with the Kurdistan Regional Government to implement the Sinjar Agreement and normalize the situation.

Serving the people of Sinjar and the Yezidi community should be our priority. Let us all work together so that Sinjar and the Yezidis are no longer subjected to political agendas and hostage to regional forces. The people of Sinjar must manage their own affairs and no longer be captives of forces across the border.

Therefore, the PKK and any illegal forces must leave Sinjar so that security, life, prosperity, and hope can be restored to Sinjar. In a multi-religious and multi-ethnic Iraq, the effective existence of institutions and the implementation of the constitution guarantee the protection of all communities and their rights, both present and future. It is the key to peace, stability, and progress in the country, so we must all work to implement the permanent constitution of Iraq.

Dear Attendees,

Yezidism is a religion of life, humanity, and mutual acceptance. It has no conflicts with any other religion or belief. The Yezidis are a people who enjoy living happily and peacefully with their surroundings. They are a society that values peace and stability, and they are very loyal and humane to their country, people, and neighbors. Therefore, the Yezidis are an important foundation of a rich culture of pluralism, coexistence, and tolerance in Kurdish and Iraqi society.

By committing genocide against the Yezidis, ISIS sought to create enmity, division, and conflict between the communities of society and destroy our culture of coexistence. Unfortunately, in Sinjar and other areas, the Yezidis woke up to find that their neighbors and acquaintances had donned the black clothes of ISIS for many years, offering them no protection. This is indeed a deep pain.

Therefore, after 10 years of genocide and suffering, the Yezidi people need to rebuild their trust more than anything else. It is our duty to do everything necessary to provide the Yezidis with security, confidence, hope, and a bright and secure future. We must ensure that such atrocities never happen again.

In addition to the duties of the government, political parties, and relevant stakeholders to serve the Yezidis, I would like to highlight the important role that universities can play. Our academic institutions should devote scientific research and academic theses in different languages to study how the Yezidis have preserved their religion, culture, traditions, and language.

Therefore, I call on our universities to devote part of their master's and doctoral theses to the issue of the Yezidis, encompassing all spheres of their lives. By doing so, we will provide a platform for the Yazidis to express and defend their case, as well as preserve their authenticity and heritage, so that it can become a source of documents in international sources.

In conclusion, we pay tribute to the heroic Peshmergas who died in the operation to liberate Sinjar under the leadership of President Masoud Barzani. Peace be upon their souls. We send our greetings to their proud families.

Thanks to the international coalition that helped Iraq and the Kurdistan Region to defeat ISIS. Just as we defeated ISIS together, we will eradicate the dark thoughts of terrorism, extremism, and violence through joint cooperation in all areas. We must continue to work towards this goal, as ISIS remains a real threat to peace and stability in Iraq and the region.

I would like to thank Kurdistan University Erbil and the Office for the Kidnapped Yezidi Rescue for organizing this commemoration. On this occasion, on behalf of myself and all of you, I warmly congratulate the officials and teams of the office for rescuing the kidnapped people. The rescue and return of 3,579 abductees is a significant achievement deserving great gratitude. I wish them continued success.

I assure the Yezidi brothers and sisters that we will always support them and defend their rights. We will continue our efforts to make Sinjar a province and rebuild it. We will work to ensure that the participation and political and administrative representation of the Yezidis and all communities in the institutions of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region is necessary and protected. We will continue to advocate for broader recognition and compensation for the genocide of the Yezidis.

I also thank all those commemorating this sad anniversary today. I would like to thank everyone who stood with the Yezidi brothers and sisters and the people of Sinjar from the first moment of the genocide, especially the loyal and hospitable people of Duhok and Badinan, who opened their arms to the victims of Sinjar. Their humanity and courage will never be forgotten.

Finally, we salute the memory and soul of the Iraqi Air Force Major General Majid Abdul Salam al-Tamimi, who died while helping the victims of Sinjar. We send our greetings to his soul and extend our respect and love to his family.

Welcome again, everyone.